FDNY Line of Duty Death
May 29, 1932 - LODD
Lieutenant James O'Donnell, 45
Ladder 163
FDNY. Woodside - Queens, New York
Lieutenant O'Donnell responded to a call on 38th Street and 31st Avenue, during which time he inhaled a lot of smoke. After they had put out the blaze, he returned to quarters, where hours later he was found dead. Lieutenant O'Donnell had 19 years of service with the department.
Lieutenant James O’Donnell was found dead on the bathroom floor in quarters at 6:30 in the morning. His company had responded to an alarm of fire at 2:20 that morning in a two-story frame building. The smoky fire caused considerable damage to the basement and a first floor laundry. Lieutenant O’Donnell had taken a considerable amount of smoke and gas but remained on duty. After the fire was out, the companies returned to quarters and bed. O’Donnell was a member of the Department since October 9, 1913. (From "The Last Alarm" by Boucher, Urbanowicz & Melahn, 2007)
RIP. Never forget.
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